Member

We do not have to immerse ourselves only in the academic research, because there is sociological data—proof of what I am saying—from other countries. Sweden did what this Government are proposing to do. They made generous sick pay provisions and reforms, and it led to rocketing absence levels until they had to go back and reform again, introducing tightened eligibility, re-imposing assessment and setting fixed sick leave durations. That brought absence levels down by 40% and there was no increase in hospitalisation.